Knockdown adjustable reclining-chair.



Nm780,252. PATENTEDJAN.17,1905. W. A, WYLIE.

KNOCKDOWN ADJUSTABLE REGLINING CHAIR.

APPLIOATION 21mm 1330.21, 1903.

2 smms-smm 1.

x F 3 .15. EH 2.

No. 780,252. PATENTED JAN. 17, 1905 W. A. WYLIE. KNOGKDOWN ADJUSTABLEREGLINING CHAIR.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 21, 1903.

2 SHIEBTSSHISET 2.

0 mar- Wane/mo) r I 3 fl J NTTFD *rrns Patented January 17, 1905 OFFICE.

MNOCKDUWN I-KDLIUSTABLE RECLlNING-"CHAIH,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 780,252, dated January17, 1905.

Application filed December 21. 1903. Serial No. 185,93.

To (til 1.0700717, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. WYLIn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Martinsville, in the county of Morgan and State of Indiana,have invented new and useful Improvements in Knockdown AdjustableReclining-Chairs; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention. reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to high-class or upholstered chairs of the typethat are designed to be adjusted automatically by the occupants thereof;and the invention has reference particularly to the framing, thearm-rests, the latches, and the upholstering thereof.

The objects of the invention are to provide adjustable chairs which maybe used both in sitting and reclining positions with an equal degree ofcomfort, to provide continuous seat and back cushions adapted to befolded compactly, and to improve the knockdown type of arm-rests andalso the latching devices for the backs of the chairs, the purpose ofthe continuous cushions being to eliminate the disadvantage arising fromthe use of separate back-cushions on adjustable back-frames.

With the above objects in view the inven tion consists in the novelforms of construction and in the combinations and arrangements of parts,as hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 repre sents a side elevation of achair in which the invention is embodied shown in partial recliningposition and in broken lines showing a sitting position of the back andarm-rests; Fig. 2, a rear elevation of the chair; Fig. 3, a centrallongitudinal vertical sectional view; Fig. 4, a fragmentary detail Viewshowing the devices for pivotally connecting the armrests detachably tothe chair-backs; Fig. 5, an elevation of the inner side of an arm-restsupport and the forward endof an arm-rest connected thereto, the latterbeing broken away to show the hidden pivotal connections between the twomembers; Fig. 6, a frag- Fig. 7, a side view of the upholstered seat andback and framing detached from the chairframe and folded for shipment;Fig. 8, a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view showing anarm-rest support connected to the chair-frame, taken centrally of thepivot thereof; Fig. 9, an inverted plan view of the removable seat andback frames and showing the latching apparatus mounted thereon; Fig. 10,a fragmentary transverse vertical seetional View as at the line 1 1 inFig. 9; Fig. 11, a perspective view of a portion of the latchingapparatus; Fig. 12, a fragmentary plan of the latching apparatus; Fig.13, a perspective view of one of the two pivoting members, and Fig 14:is a perspective view of the other one of the pivoting members for thearm-rest supports.

Similar reference characters in the several figures of the drawingsindicate corresponding parts or features.

in construction the parts of the foundationframe, including the legs,are permanentlyand rigidly connected together, and the other principalparts are removably mounted thereon. The foundation-frame comprises legsA A A, A a front rail B, a rear rail 11%, and side rails B B. Each siderail is provided at the inner side thereof with a key-block (J, rigidlysecured thereto, which has a downwardly-inclined face a presentedforwardly. The top of the rear rail B is provided with a facingstrip Z),that has an inclined inner side. At

the forward end of each side rail a pivoting .1

member D is secured to the outer side thereof, comprising an annularframe 0, havmg perforated ears (Z for attaching the same to the rail bymeans of screws, the front of the frame having an inwardly-extendingannular flange 6, having two openings f at opposite sides of the frame,the back of the frame having a cross-bar 9 attached thereto, in which isan aperture it centrally of the frame to receive the pivot-pin of thecompanion part E, one of which is secured to the inner side of eacharmrest support F or F, each member E being clips I I, each clip beingstruck up from a block C. The seat-frame supports a pair of formed as abar having two lips at opposite ends thereof and a central pivot-pin 1',adapted to enter the aperture 71 ,screw-holes A: being prol vided forsecuring the member to the support. A thin metallic wearing-plate Z isinterposed between the member E and the support F or F. In connectingthe two members E and D together the lips a may enter the openingsf andthen pass under the flange 6 while being rotated, the two membersthereby being held together,except whenintentionallydisconnected, thearrangement being such that the armrest supports may be attached to therails and detached therefrom when in horizontal positions only. It willbe understood that the member D may be attached to the arm-rest supportand the member E to the frame-rail, if desired.

The forward ends of the arm-rests G and G have each a recess min theunder side thereof into which the upper end of the support F or Fextends and operates. Each support has a metallic plate H attached tothe upper forward face thereof, and a similar plate H is secured in theforward portion of the recess to the companion arm-rest, the two platesbeing connected together by means of a pivot 12 situated at the lowerends thereof, the pivot and the upper end of the support being hiddenfrom the ordinary range of vision, thus affording neat hingedconnections.

In order to provide simple pivotal connections for the arm-rests withthe chair-back that may be frictional and free from lost motion and yetbe adapted to be readily disconnected, the under sides of the rear endsof the arm-rests G and G are provided with springbase-plate p, thelatter being secured at one end thereof to an arm-rest by screws q, thefree end of the clip being connected to the arm-rest by a removablescrew 2.

The removable seat-frame comprises a pair of side bars J J and a pair ofcross-bars K K, all rigidly and permanently connected together, the sidebars having key-blocks L L rigidly attached to the inner sides thereofand extending below the plane of the bottoms thereof, the rear ends ofthe blocks having each an upwardly and rearwardly inclined face 1*adapted to engage a face a of the fixed drop-hangers M M, which areattached at their ends to the under sides of the cross-bars K and K andextend longitudinally of the chair from one bar to the other, thehangers supporting portions of the latching apparatus. Cleats s s areattached to the inner sides of the bars J J for supporting the rods 6and t, on which seat-springs are mounted. The parts of the latchingapparatus that are supported by the seat-frame on the hangers M Mcomprise a catch N, that extends between the hangers, being securedthereto, and a pair of connected swinging arched guides O 0, cooperatingwith the catch N. The guides are provided with pivot members 10a, towhich arms a o are attached, the arms being con nected by an integralguard w, extending across the guides slightly above them, the pivots a aresting on the tops of the hangers M M and connected thereto by staplesa: and the free ends of the guides normally resting on the catch N. Theseat-frame rests on the top of the foundation-frame, the key-blocks L Lfitting between the side rails thereof, and the interlocking key-blockspreventing vertical movements of the seat-frame, the latter requiring tobe inclined when being connected to the foundation-frame and also whenbeing disconnected therefrom, the forward ends of the hangers M M beinginclined and fitting closely against the front rail B, serving to aid inlooking the seat-frame. The rear ends of the side bars J J havereinforcing-blocks 3 and are curved upwardly at the tops thereof.

The back-frame, which is permanently connected to the seat-frame,comprises a pair of side bars P P, connected rigidly together bycross-bars 1 y/ g at the backs thereof, the lower ends of the side barsbeing pivotally connected to the seat-frame side bars J J by hinges Q Q,secured to the tops thereof, so that the back-frame may fold over ontothe top of the seat-frame. The back-frame has reinforcing-blocks 4 and5.

The inner side of the front rail B is provided with a spring-latch 6,adapted to engage a catch 7, attached to the hangers M M, for holdingthe front of the seat-frame securely yet detachably on thefoundation-frame; but in some cases this may not be required and whendesired may be suitably modified.

At the inner sides of the cross-bars y 3 a vertically-disposed arm R issecured thereto, extending downwardly beyond the bar y, the latter beingat the lower end of the backframe, and a pivot-block S is secured to thelower end of the arm R, extending beyond the end thereof. A latch-bar Tis pivoted at its rear end to the block S and extends at all times to orbeyond the catch N, having ratchetteeth 8 adapted to engage the catch N,so as to prevent forward movements of the latchbar. Guide-fingers 9 aresecured to and project from opposite sides of the bar Tnear the forwardend thereof beyond the teeth 8 and are adapted to ride on the guides O Oto elevate and carry the bar T in its reverse movements above the catchN, so that the teeth 8 cannot engage the catch until the fingers slideoff the ends of the guides at the pivots a a and permit the bar T todescend onto the catch N. The under side of the bar T has a stopshoulder10 to engage the catch N for limiting the rearward movement of the barT, and consequently the lower end of the chair-back.

It will thus be seen that the latching apparatus is connected alonewith'the seat-frame and the connected backframe and removable therewithfrom the foundation-frame.

The back is provided with pivots U U, extending laterally from the sidesthereof between the clips 1 I and their base-plates p and between theclips and the screws 2,where by the back is pivotally connected to therear ends of the arm-rests.

The seat is provided with springs X, supported on the rods 25 t, andwith other suit ably-supported springs, and the back has springs Xsupported on fabric V or tapes at tached to the cross-bars y 1 3 Thecontinuous cushion for the seat and the back comprises a cushion-bottomV, of suitable material, extending from the front bar K to the top ofthe back-frame on the springs and suitably secured to both the seat andthe back frames, and also a cushion-top W extending likewise from thefront bar K to the top of the back-frame, the space between the cushiontop and bottom being suitably filled with hair or other material, aswill be understood, although omitted for convenience in the drawings,the cushions being suitably tufted by cords Y when desired. in thevicinity of the folding-point in the plane of the hinges Q Q there areno springs, so that the cushion may readily sink in when being folded,and the top of the cushion is creased at the folding-point, as at Y. Therear of the seat-back has a covering W, which extends behind thefacing-piece b.

To knock down the chair, only a screwdriver is required, and the screws2 are to be withdrawn, permitting the arm-rests to be disconnected fromthe pivots U U, after which the arm-rcst supports are to be movedradially to horizontal positions, when the lips t' may be drawn throughthe openings f, thus disconnecting the supports. Then the front of theseat may be elevated and drawn forwardly until the key-blocks becomedisengaged, and the latch-barT may be lifted from the catch N and drawnrearwardly, while the chair-back may be folded over onto the seat, as inFig. 7 In shipment, however, the seatframe and folded back may remain onthe foundation-frame.

In practical use when the chair-back is tilted rearwardly for thereclining position the latch-barTwill engage the catch N, as in Fig. 3.If now the top of the chair-back be elevated or moved forwardly, thelatch-bar T will move rearwardly on the catch N and engage therewith atany position at which the back may be stopped manually, the weight ofthe back tending to move the latch-bar forwardly against the catch. Ifthe back be moved farther up to the proper sitting posi tion, the stop10 will engage the catch N and prevent further movement, and at the sametime the fingers 9 will lift the ends of the guidesO O' and pass underthem during the movement of the latch-bar, the guides again droppingonto the catch. The latching apparatus now being inoperative, thechair-back will gently fall to the reclining position, the fingers 9riding on the guides O O and carrying the bar T clear of the catch Nforwardly until the latch-bar drops into engagement with the catch N,when the back may be again readjusted to suit. The various movementsmaybe made by the person occupying the chair by means of the arm-rests.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new is- 1. Anadjustable chair including a seatframe, a back-frame hinged to theseat-frame, a continuous cushion attached permanently to both theseat-frame and the back-frame, a stationary catch supported below theseat-frame, a pair of swinging guides pivotally supported with free endsnormally on the catch, and a toothed latch-bar connected to theback-frame and cooperating with the catch and the swinging guides.

2. An adjustable chair including a seatframc, a back-frame hinged to theseat-frame, a continuous cushion attached permanently to both theseat-frame and the back-frame, pivoted arm-rest supports, arm-restspivoted to the back-frame and to the arm-rest supports, a stationarycatch supported below the seat-frame, a pair of swinging guidespivotally supported with free ends normally on the catch, and a toothedlatch-bar connected to the back-frame and cooperating with the catch andthe swinging guides.

3. An adjustable knockdownchair including a foundation-frame, aseat-frame mounted removably on the foundation-frame,a backframe hingedto the seat-frame, keying de vices for the seat-frame, latchingapparatus for the back-frame supported by the seatframe and theback-frame, arm-rest supports pivoted to the foundation-trame,andarm-rests pivoted to the back-frame and to the arm-rest supports.

4. An adjustable knockdown chair including a foundation-frame, aseat-frame mounted removably on the foundation-frame, keying devices forthe seat-frame, a back-frame hinged to the seat-frame and adapted tofold over onto the seat-frame, latching apparatus for the back-framesupported by the seatframe and the back-frame, and a continuous cushionattached permanently to both the seat-frame and the back-frame.

5. An adjustable chair including a foundation-f rame, a seat-frame, apivoted back-frame, a stationary catch, a pair of swinging guidesconnected together and pivotally supported with free ends normally onthe catch, and a toothed latch-bar connected to the back-frame andcooperating with the catch and the swinging guides.

' v6. In an adjustable chair, the combination of a frame, a pair offixed hangers, a catch mounted between the hangers, a pair of swingingguides pivoted on the hangers and having a guard connected therewiththat extends transversely above the guides, a pivoted backframe, and alatch-bar connected to the backframe and cooperating with the catch andhaving guide-fingers cooperating with the swinging guides.

7 In an adjustable chair, the combination of a foundation-frame providedwith keyingblocks, a seat-frame mounted removably on thefoundation-frame and provided with keying-blocks engaging thekeying-blocks of the foundation-frame, a back-frame hinged to theremovable seat-frame, and latching apparatus for the back-frame.

8. In an adjustable chair, the combination of a foundation-frameprovided with keying devices, a seat-frame mounted removably on thefoundation-frame and provided with keying devices cooperating with thekeying devices of the foundation-frame, a back-frame hinged to theremovable seat-frame, latching apparatus for the back-frame, and anindependent latching device for the seat-frame.

9. In an adjustable chair, the combination of a foundation-frame, aseat-frame, a pivoted back-frame, arm-rest supports, arm-rests pivotedto the arm-rest supports and to the back frame, and detachable pivotingdevices for the arm-rest supports comprising each an annular framehaving a pivoting-aperture and also an inwardly-extending flange havingopenings therein at the front thereof, the frame also having aperturedears for the support thereof, and a companion member having a pivot forentering said pivoting-aperture and also having lips adapted to entersaid openings and engage said flange, said member also havingscrew-holes therein.

10. In an adjustable chair, the combination with an arm-rest pivoted atits forward end and with a pivoted chair-back, of a spring-clip having abase secured to the arm-rest, a pivot attached to the chair-back andextending between the clip and its base, and a screw extending throughthe clip into the arm-rest adjacent to the pivot.

11. In an adjustable chair, the combination of a pivoting member forarm-rest supports comprising an annular frame having a crossbar at therear thereof provided with a pivot ing-aperture, said frame having alsoan inwardly extending flange having openings therein at the frontthereof, with a companion pivoting member having a pivot for enteringsaid aperture and also having lips adapted to enter said openings andengage said flange.

12. In an adjustable chair, the combination of a frictional pivotalconnecting device for the arm-rests and chair-back. comprising a basehaving a spring-clip struck up therefrom provided with a screw-hole inthe end thereof, the base being secured to an arm-rest of the chair,with a pivot attached to the chair-back in engagement with the base andthe clip, and

a screw attached to the arm-rest and engaging and frictionally bindingthe clip to the pivot. In testimony whereof I aflix my signature inpresence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM A. \NYLIE.

Witnesses:

WM. H. PAYNE, E. T. SILVIUS.

